Teaching Tech Ed...
Magi D. Shepley
computer literacy... I'm actually the other technology education
teacher. This is the class that used to be known (to many of us) as
industrial arts.
I do not have my own space yet, so I'm sharing space. I do have access
to a computer lab. I can still do software stuff, but its a "survey"
class... I'll have the kids all year, and this is supposed to fulfill
the state requirement for technology education at the high school level.
I have access to a lab (sometimes... I have priority access); the lab
has a CD-Burner, a scanner; MS Office.
They are going to try and get me a networkable color ink jet. The
career cluster teacher and myself are going to buy digital cameras and
share them... we're hoping to get 4 or 5 of the Vivitars that Mark
mentioned (we found them for $60... no fancy features, no red-eye
reduction, but it does do some minor video... its good enough for the
kids to use).
I've asked for some simulation software... I'm looking at SimTower
(from Martin's description/recommendation), Roller Coaster Tycoon, and
Sim Theme Park. I'll have access to Kenex and Lego Mindstorm... so I'm
hoping the kids can design stuff on paper, put it on the computer, and
then build it with Kenex or Lego... amusement parks.
What other ideas do you guys have? I will also have the kids doing some
small business-type stuff... I want them to run a business the way the
advanced classes in the career cluster are doing... Doing some simple
graphic design, powerpoint stuff, digital pictures for some of the other
clusters like hospitality and retail.
Thanks!
Magi
Remove all space cats to email.
Jennifer
modules for flight and other things. The rest of the time they're using
AutoCAD or the equipment in the shop making wood and metal projects.
Jennifer
"Magi D. Shepley" <ma...@concentriccatsincyberspace.net> wrote in message
news:3D6179BC...@concentric.net...
Martin Rowley
it doesn't work well with the OS (NT4) that we're currently
using. You can usually find this program on the discount
rack at stores like Wal-Mart, Best-Buy, etc. in the area
where they sell cheap software in just the srinked wrapped
cd jewel case - usually for under $10. I suggest getting a
copy to experiment on if you still are thinking of using it.
All the other software you listed sounds good and I think
should work ok.
What age group are you going to be working with?
I'll email you something.
Martin
Sky Rookie
work place... I'd spend a great deal of your time on it. They need Word,
Excel, and PowerPoint at a minimum. Most of the kids probably have a
computer at home, and know how to use a CD burner already. As far as games,
I don't know of many that are educational at the high school level other
then typing programs. Games open up a discipline problem also.
However, I have played SimTower and it is a game of thinking at first... but
once you figure out how to make the computer happy you'll make millions in
your tower. So if you use that for a day or two it may be a good idea.
I don't know about Legos in high school. However, an MIT grad made a copy
machine out of the Mindstorm set and got a lot of press on it.
Graphic design is a great idea... maybe have them make brochures for their
fictional hotel that they are advertising for. Also can use this same stuff
for making an ad for the their hotel.
Take your running a business theme, and have the class in small groups run a
hotel. Then have each group design their ads, brochures, and maybe even a
simple website. Then have a day in which each group presents their hotel to
the class with a power point presentation. Afterwards you could have each
student vote (or "spend their money") on the best hotel business. Maybe even
have a prize for the winner (most votes or money).
I may just have to save that idea for myself. :-)
Good Luck,
John Reynolds
Magi D. Shepley
know jack about CAD. I bought SimCity 3000 tonight (I couldn't find SimTower:
its no longer published; the store was out of Sim ThemePark).
Magi
Magi D. Shepley
because CompUSA and BestBuy don't have it. I haven't found the WalMart in the
area yet, but I know Target didn't have it when I was there Saturday. I will
go and check the K-Mart this weekend.
They were out of Sim ThemePark. I picked up a copy of SimCity 3000 for $14.99
(the original version... ) on the manager's recommendation. He said that Sim
ThemePark is great, Zoo Tycoon and MS Railroad are boring. He suggested
avoiding Flight Sims and other Railroad sims because the kids may not be able
to handle all the button pushing to get the trains they design to run.
Magi
Magi D. Shepley
school, in a self-contained environment. Our focus is a bit different than most
people would expect: Lego is also one of our business partners, and the
Mindstorm and Kenex stuff is VERY popular among the kids.
I do like the business idea though, and may tie that in with the theme parks and
the towers though. I saw a hotel sim that looks similar, anybody ever used it?
Magi
Jennifer
Jenn
"Magi D. Shepley" <ma...@concentriccatsincyberspace.net> wrote in message
news:3D62D047...@concentric.net...
Martin Rowley
$19.99. I bought several of these sets for use in my class
back when I was using this stuff. It's a box that has:
SimCity Classic
SimTower
Streets of SimCity
SimCopter
SimIsle and SimSafari
We used most of these - except for the SimIsle and
SimSafari. Six games for $20 - not too bad.
Martin
Magi D. Shepley
access to it for multiple copies for the classroom.
I can't even figure out SimCity 3000... RollerCoaster Tycoon was *easy*
compared to SimCity! I am remembering why I never liked the game when it was
available in its original editions.
Magi
Magi D. Shepley
anybody have experience with these programs? SimSafari, Widget Workshop (is this
anything like The Incredible Machine? I could use that too, if I could find a
simpler version...), SimTunes, SimTown, SimAnt, and SimPark.
If SimTown is like SimCity but easier, that would serve my purpose. Most of the
kids are listed as 9th graders or 10th graders, but I'm seeing reading levels at
2-3rd grade for lots of them too.
If *I* can't figure SimCity out (I can't even make the freaking tutorial run), how
are kids with really low frustration levels ever going to do it?
We could do the same thing with SimPark that I was planning for SimTower...
building/drawing a park and then doing advertising and other activities for it.
And use RollerCoaster Tycoon for the theme park component with the Kenex.
Magi
Martin Rowley
http://www.terc.edu/mathequity/gw/html/SimTown.html
http://www.worldvillage.com/wv/school/html/reviews/simtown.htm
Caution!!! Mad Scientist At Work!
A Review of Widget Workshop: The Mad Scientist's Laboratory
http://www.worldvillage.com/wv/school/html/reviews/widget.htm
http://www.terc.edu/mathequity/gw/html/Widget.html
SimTunes - demo
http://www.kidsdomain.com/down/pc/simtunesp1.html
Another "game" I picked up - not really for school but to
play with myself - was Lego Creator. You get all the peices
of lego and can build (and blow up) things.
http://www.lego.com/software/creator/?platform=pc
I bought this package years ago for a friend that was doing
home school - Kid CAD they seemed to liked it.
http://www.tabone.com.mt/davidson/kidcad.htm
Some other stuff:
http://www.knowledgematters.com/VBR/VBRStories.asp?Story=VABelote
http://www.technocopia.com/parent-tech-smart-toys-sim-opinion-011.html
Martin
Magi D. Shepley
spent my evening looking up K'Nex information, Robotics, and Science Olympiad. I found
a great Marble Race thing, where you build mazes to race marbles through. I think that
would be GREAT for my all girls and all boys group... we could build the mazes, use a
timer to see how fast/slow it goes through the maze... and maybe have a competition.
Magi
Martin Rowley wrote:
Remove all space cats to email.
Martin Rowley
tech teacher tomorrow if he has one of his catalogs that he
buys stuff out of. There's an educational supply company
that has tons of stuff like the K'Nex stuff. I think I've
seen the marble thing - or was it ball bearings - think I've
seen both in the catalog.
lousherry
quiet about the subject now?
sf
<ma...@concentriccatsincyberspace.net> wrote:
> I know, but I was trying to get it quick... and want to make sure that we have
> access to it for multiple copies for the classroom.
> I can't even figure out SimCity 3000... RollerCoaster Tycoon was *easy*
> compared to SimCity! I am remembering why I never liked the game when it was
> available in its original editions.
>
I don't have a clue what you are talking about, but it just dawned on
me that Sim City might be one of those "games" I found on a recycling
website.
Joni Rathbun
On Wed, 21 Aug 2002, lousherry wrote:
> Magi did you ever look up the ed code cites I gave you? You seem awful
> quiet about the subject now?
I looked it up in the ed law book at school and shared with you how it
spells out the process. You were awfully quiet on the subject.
lousherry
read. Did not get your sharing?
Joni Rathbun
On Thu, 22 Aug 2002, lousherry wrote:
> There is no process. Its plain painless and simple according to what I
> read. Did not get your sharing?
Well, Luo, in our state (it is different in every state), the book
entitled "Nevada Education Law" includes a number of referenecs to
suspensions and expulsions. The only decision a teacher can make alone is
to remove a child from his or her classroom to the office for a day.
Suspensions have a specific committee process. Expulsions are done by a
district committee. This is spelled out in state education LAW.
Magi D. Shepley
(samples), and information on how to write grants.
Magi
Martin Rowley wrote:
Remove all space cats to email.
Magi D. Shepley
program that has been around for at least 10 years, maybe 20... your goal is to set
up and run a city. You have to do EVERYTHING, including utilities, and businesses.
And there are disaster that can destroy your town.
For some people, its addictive... but today when I talked with the other information
tech teacher, he agreed with me: If I can't figure it out in 5 or 10 minutes well
enough to run through the tutorial, our kids are going to get very upset and
frustrated with it. So, SimCity is off the list. Unless I can find a copy of JUST
Sim ThemePark or Sim Tower, we won't be using the Sim-line... I'll just use
RollerCoaster Tycoon. SimPark and SimTown look good, but they also look like they
might be a bit too "young" for the kids. SimTunes is definitely that way, and I have
a fairly decent "Rube Goldberg/simple machines" program already called The Incredible
Machine. The kids might get a bit frustrated with it, because it isn't easy... but
I know we have TVView (computer->TV hookups) so that might be something we do as a
group.
Magi
sf wrote:
Remove all space cats to email.
Magi D. Shepley
all 4 states I've ever taught in.
Magi
Joni Rathbun wrote:
Remove all space cats to email.
Magi D. Shepley
few threads on productive teaching ideas.
Magi
Joni Rathbun wrote:
Remove all space cats to email.
sf
<ma...@concentriccatsincyberspace.net> wrote:
> I found
> a great Marble Race thing, where you build mazes to race marbles through. I think that
> would be GREAT for my all girls and all boys group... we could build the mazes, use a
> timer to see how fast/slow it goes through the maze... and maybe have a competition.
>
That sounds like fun even if it's just for me... what's the URL?
sf
wrote:
> Magi did you ever look up the ed code cites I gave you? You seem awful
> quiet about the subject now?
>
Hey, you're back! How was vacation?
We've moved on. You'll have to read through old posts, there are a
lot of cites if you need to see them.
Magi D. Shepley
and the price wasn't bad for one of the kits: $25.
Magi
sf wrote:
Remove all space cats to email.
lousherry
lousherry
sf
wrote:
> Great. Unable to finds the posts?
>
It appears you are.